Rotary sprinkler



July 25, 1933. E G, MUNz ROTARY SPRINKLER Filed Dec. 2l, 1931 ATTORNEYIS' 'Patentea July 25,1933 Q v111,919,24113 l WTE Ap'pneauon flied December 21, 1931.y Yserial No. V582,460. This invention relates generally toirrigat- Figure 3 is a view"similary show ing apparatus and refers more particularlyl ing the various partsof the sprinkler in a to sprinkling devices designed for distributdifferent position.

ing water over relatively large-areas. i A The sprinklershown'.hereinffor'the pur- L One vof the principal objects of thisfinvenpose of illustration comprises a housing 5 tion consists in the provisionof asprinkler embedded .Within thegroundfand.v having a having'a rotary distributing head7 together tubular portion 11v terminating at theupper with means associated with the head and opend thereof in a laterally outwardly extend-Q erated bythe water discharged 'into the lat# 'ing' flange :12 normally arranged flush with W ter for periodically .exerting 'rotative -ini-1 the topsurface of the ground. t The tubular 69 pulses to the head inA such a .manner as to portion ll'isfprovided-with a bottom wall 13;

rotate the same at a relatively slow rate of having a restricted openinglt` therethrough speed irrespective of the velocityoi'quantity: communicating with a supply conduit 15` exof Awater issuing from the head or the presf tendingfrom a source of'water vunder presif. sure of the water. By rotating the'd'istribu# sure.k f l 7 65 tor head as speciiedfabove, any tendencyof Mounted Vwithin the housing for Vaxial the water streams issuing `from the head to movement from a position within the tubular Y become bent ldue to rapid changes'in theposiportion-11` iiush with the top surface of the v Y tionsof the nozzles will be practically elimiground'to a-position substantially above the l L0 nated, with the result that maximum areas aforesaid ysurface* ispa lwater distributing. 0

may be irrigated by thesprinkler.v head 16'. The distributing head 16 is inthe `Another advantageous feature ofthe pres# form' 'of a casing havingannular sidewall ent'invention is to provide a sprinkler with a portions 117 terminating at .the upper ends distributing head which, in add-ition to being thereof` in afrusto conical wallportion 18 v, Y

periodically rotated by" the-water, is -also havinga pair. of nozzles 19A secured' thereto 7"; y movable axially under the influence'of the atdiametricallyopposite sides thereof.V The y waterpressure from a position Hush with the. casing isfurther provided with .Ja top wall ground to a position spaced 4substantially section 2() havng Vthe marginal edges thereof above the same. extending laterally beyondj`the7side. Walls A further object `of the present invention of the casingforr engagement within an an-V 50 consists inthe provision of a sprinkler where# nular recess 21 formed in the upper surface in the resistance `offered tothe rotation of of the housing and surrounding the opening the distributing head by thewater is reduced in the latter through which the head extends. to the minimum. Y Asjwill be observed from `Figure-"3 the ar- A' still urtherobject of theinvention cony rangementv is such thatiwhen the distributing 3 sists in the provision of a sprinkler ,possess head is located within the'tubular portion 11 ing the foregoing advantageous .features ofthe housing, the marginal 'portions ofth'e which is extremely simple in construction and `topwall-QO assume a position within therecapable .of being inexpensively manufaccess 21 flush with theupper surface ofthe f 40 tured, assembled and installed. flange 12 andare supportedxin .this latter 90 v The foregoingas wellas other objects will position by the annular shoulders formedvby; be Vmade more apparent as this description the recess. L 1 u l j proceeds, especially when consideredV in con- In order to prevent disengagement of the t nection with the accompanyingdrawing distributing head fromthefhousing, I prof i 4D wherein: Y videfa nonrotatable tubular stemv22- slid- 9i' Figure 1 is a central longitudinal `sectional ably engaging an opening23A formed in the view through a sprinklerunit constructed in bottom wall 24of thedistribu'ting head and accordance-with the present inventiony also slidably engagingwithinthe opening Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substan- 14 formed in thelower wall of the tubular v 59 tially on the liner2-v2`of Figure 3; l Vportion 11'., ;Thelowerfendof thenstem is 1GO t provided with an enlargement the form of a nut 25 adapted 'to engage an annular seat 26 surrounding the opening 14 when the dis` tributing'head is in the position shown in v Figure 1 for restrictingv upward movement of the head relative to the housing and for preventing water from escapingpast the stem. The upper portion of the stem' projects into the housing' and is provided with a bearing ring 26 extending laterally y outwardly therefrom for engaging the inner surface of v the wall 24 surrounding the opening 23 therethrough.y f The arrangement is such that the bearing 26 serves to vlimit upward movement of the head 16 relative to the stem and in additioincooperates with the'nut 25for maintaining the stemrin assembled relation with both the head and 'housng The upper Y end of the .stein 22 is provided with a substantially'fiat chamber 30 having portions extending laterally outwardly from. opposite sides of the stem and provided ywith jets 531- vin the lower walls thereof issuing tangential-- I ly for reasons about to be described.y

As previously stated, it is one of the obyjects of the present invention to periodically rotate the ,distributing head at a relatively slow rate ofspeed and for accomplishing this result, I provide an impeller 32 located within the head adjacent the bottom wall 24 thereof andhaving a centrally arranged opening 33 therein for receiving the portions of the stem 22 below the chamber 30. The internal diameter of the opening 33 is preferably substantially greater than the external diameter ofthe tubular stein so as to reduce friction to a minimum. Cooperating with the impeller 32for establishing a driving'v connection between the same and distributing head is apair of driving lugs 34 formed upon and extending upwardly from the ybottom wall 24 of the head. The driving lugs 34 are'ai ranged upon diametrically oppositesides vof the axis of the head in concentric relation theretoand are adapted to be engaged by the free'end portions of the impeller 32 upon roi tation ofthe latter. The surfaces ofthe lugs adapted to be engaged by the impeller are gradually inclined-'in the direction -of roi tation of the latter'from a .point'flush with the bottom wall of the casing to a point positioned above the same'so as to permit theL impeller to gradually Vride over-the lugs dur- Y 1 ing rotation of the same. It will be apparent, however, that since the lugs are carried-by the distributing head upon diametrically opposite sides of the axes-thereof and in view of the fact vthat the head is mounted upon the stem 22 for rotation relative to the impeller, the latter in riding over the inclinedsurfaces ofthelugs will exert driving'ii'npulses of equal magnitude upon the distributing head at diametrically op-r posite sides of the axis thereof for rotating the saine'a predetermined distance depending upon the y'width of the inclined surfaces l of the lugs. The arrangement is such that` during each revolution ofthe impeller', the distributing. head is gradually advanced the predetermined distance aforesaid.

Referring now to the operation of the sprinkler as liereinbefore ,described and assuming that the parts thereof vare-in theirA inoperative. position shown in Figure 3, it will be noted that as soon as the water under pessure is released from the source Vof sup,- lhver portion ofthe housing against the nut 25 and the bottom head. The discharge of fluid under pressure against the distributinghead andnut on the stem causes, the said parts to move to their. operative positionsshownin F igureLl Where` in the distributing head is in engagement with the bearing 26 and the peripheral porj tions of the'nut 25 are in engagement withk the same will immediately flow into the wall 24 of the Vdistributing I the annular seat 26fsurrounding the opening 14. Upon sealing `engagement of the nut 25 with theseat 26, the water under Vpressure lflows through the stem 22 into the chamber 30 whereupon it is discharged through .the

jets 31 and owing to the inclination of the y latter is impinged tangentially upon the upper 'surface ofthe impeller 32. The treac-v tion of Ithe water on the impeller 32 causes the latter to rotate relative to the stem and head until the end portions thereof engage the inclined surfacesof the drivingl lugs 34. As previously stated, upon engagement of the impeller with the inclined surfaces afore5 eoY lee

said, theimpellertends to ride over'the inclined surfaces, and in so doing gradually advances the distributing head a predetei mined Vangular distance. It will be appar-k ent that the pressure of the water on the imt pelleivwill gradually carry the same beyondl the driving lugs` with the result that the` impeller willcontinue to rotate freely relativev tothe distributing head until it again. en-

gages ythe lugs whereupon the distributing headis advanced `another step. Itwill fiirt ther be, apparent that after the water has been discharged upon the impeller," `the`same builds up a pressure withinfthe-distributing head and is immediately issued from thehead "-1 iii.

tion, it is to be noted that astheiimpeller rides over theinclined surfaces of the lugs,

it exerts a downward pressure on the distributing. head causing the' same to slide downwardly slightly upon the stem 22 and in so doing relieves the irictional bearing fen-K gagement between the end wall 24 of the head and bearing 26 therefor. during the intervals of rotation of the distributing head, the bottom wall 24 thereof is in spaced relation to the bearing 26', with the result that the frictional resista-nce offered to the rotation of the head by the bearing is eliminated.

What I claim as my invention is Y 1. In a sprinkler, a-rotatable distributin head having'a nozzle, an impeller' mounted within said head for rotation relative to the latter, means for discharging water into said head against the impeller in a direction to exert aI torque on the latter about the 'axis of the same, and means operable upon rotation of the impeller` to simultaneously exert driving im act impulses on said head on y opposite sides of the axis thereo.

2.V In a sprinkler, a rotatable distributing head having a nozzle, an impeller mounted within said head Afor rotation relative to the `latter, means above said impeller for discharging water into said head against the impeller in a direction to the latter about the axis of the same, and means operable upon rotation of the impeller to exert driving imp act impulses on said head.

3.' In a sprinkler, a rotatable distributingl head having a bottom wall and having a nozzle, an impeller Vmounted within the head for rotation relative thereto, means Vfor discharging water into the head against the upper surface of the impeller in a direction to both urge the impeller downwardly toward the bottom wall of the head and to exert a torque on the impeller'aboutvthe axis of rotation thereof for continuously rotating the same, andmeans projecting upwardly from the bottom wall of the head for intermittently receiving an impact from said impeller whereby said headis periodicallyy rotated.

4.111 a sprinkler, aV rotatable distributing head having a bottom wall and having a noz- Y zle, an impeller mounted within the head for rotation relative thereto, means Ytordischarging water into the head against the upper surface of the impeller in a direction to both urge the impeller downwardly toward the.,

bottom wall of the head and to exert'a torque on the impeller about the axis of rotation thereof for continuously rotating the same', and a projection on the bottom wall lof the head havingan upwardly extendingsurface inclined in the direction of rotation of the impeller for periodic engagement by the latter wherebythe head is gradually and intermittently rotated by the impeller. Y

5. In a sprinkler, a rotatable distributing In other words, e.

n head having a bottom exert a torque on is engaged bythe impeller;

.ELMER G.-MUNz.

withinisaid head for rotationrelative to the latter, means for discharging .waterintol said exert a torque' on the llatter Aabout the. axis of the same, and projections united to the head and located on diametricallyopposite head against the impeller inwa' directionfto y sides of the axis of rotation thereotfor sii 'y multaneously receiving an impact from said impeller during each revolution of the .latter. j 6. In a j vhead havingla nozzle, an impeller mounted `"within said head for rotation relative tothe latter, means for discharging walterfinto said head against'the impeller in a direction to vexert a torque on the latter about the axis sprinkler,afrotatable distributing l of the same, and a projection united tothe V i head below said impeller forureceiving'an impactfrom said impeller during eachrevolution of the latter.

7. In a sprinkler, a rotatable distributing rotation relative thereto, means for discharg-V wall and vhaving 'a noz`r` zle, an impeller mounted withinvthe head for' eef :tace of the impellerin a'- direction to, both i j urge the impeller downwardly toward they' bot/tom lwall `of the head and :to exert a torque on the impeller about the axis of rotation thereof for continuously rotating the same,

anda pluralityof upwardly extending projections on diametrically oppositev sides of.V .l

the axis oli-rotation of the` head and havingv surfacesl inclined upwardly in the directionof rotation'of the impeller for simultaneously .engaging thelatter.r v .j

the combinationf with a ltubular stem adapted `to be connected to a source of water under pressure, of a distrib- 8. In a sprinkler,

uting head slid-ably and rotatably mounted formed with an upwardly.extendinglprojection spaced radially outwardlyfrom the axis of rotation of the head, an annular shoulder lupon said stem yand'havingx-a bottom wallllt) on said stem within the head-normally forming a bearing for the latter'andfrestrictingv j stem, an impeller located with in the headand rotatable about the axis of the stem for yperiodically engaging ,theprojeetionaforesaid to `upward movement ofthe samerelative toV the Y flowing therethrough against theupper suri face of the impeller in a direction to exert a ztorque onthe impellerfforcontinuously ro-` tating the same andr also operable to exert a downward pressure upon the impeller for". moving the head axially downwardly on the stem to relieve the friction between the head and bearing aforesaid when'the projection Y 

